LESSON 1 Activity 1

Watershed Poetry

Grades:

4th - 7th

Objective:

Students gain a greater appreciation for water resources.

Method:

Students write poems about water.

Materials:

Sample poems: Page 1 and Page 2.

Time:

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Class Time: 30 minutes

Procedure:

  1. Review parts of speech and the definition of a syllable, as the concepts are used in writing certain types of poetry.

  2. Distribute a copy of the sample poems and formats. Go over the examples with the students, stressing that poems follow particular formats. (An exception is free verse, which you may wish to disallow so students will try a more challenging format.)

  3. Have students close their eyes and visualize a stream or other body of water. Ask them to write down or share with the class what the stream and its surroundings look like, sound like, smell like, or feel like. You may also bring students to the stream for this exercise, in which case they would share their observations about the real stream instead of visualizing a stream.

  4. Give students time to write their own poems about water. Because it is hard to rush creativity, you may wish to give the students some time to work on their poems at home or allow more than one class session.

  5. You may wish to have students write poems again after they have participated in more water- related activities. Their level of interest and the quality of their poems may increase along with their knowledge and appreciation of water.

  6. Submit your students' poems to River of Words, a national contest for water-related poems and art. See appended materials for instructions about how to enter. Entering the contest will give students a sense of pride as they represent our region and share the beauty they see in our local environment.

Assessment:

  1. Are students interested in writing poems about water? Do students use vivid images related to water?

NYS Learning Standards:

English
Standard 2 - Language for Literary Response and Expression: Speaking and Writing

Math, Science, and Technology
Standard 4 - Science: Physical Setting 2


Source: This activity adapted from Project Learning Tree's Environmental Education Activity Guide.